Behavioral Sciences Major

The Behavioral Sciences attempt to explore the complex nature of the human experience and encounter the great questions of humanity: What does it mean to be human? Who am I? Who are they? What is the religious life of man? Why is there misery? What is the pursuit of the good life? How then, shall we live?

In investigating these core questions we discover how individuals think about and relate to themselves and others. The Behavioral Science Major at Concordia University Irvine utilizes the tools of anthropology, psychology, and sociology to create a foundation to investigate the dynamic between self and society; agency and structure; and nature and culture.

As a major in Psychology and Behavioral Science, you are trained through research methods courses, practicum experiences, and a rigorous curriculum. Our graduates engage in lives of service to the community as psychologists, sociologists, anthropologists, lawyers, social workers, nurses, demographers, and policy analysts. Students who continue on to earn their graduate degree choose programs such as Masters in Social Work (MSA), Marriage and Family Therapy, Nursing, Physical Therapy, Clinical Psychology, Counseling, Law School, Educational Psychology, and Seminary.

The Behavioral Science major offers you the opportunity to select an emphasis to serve others intelligently, ethically, and faithfully through your God-given vocations in society and in the church.

What Students are Saying

Concordia University was pivotal in preparing me for graduate school, and my career. The professors took time to mentor students and were highly invested in the success of students. My coursework was rigorous and intellectually stimulating, and many of my courses have provided me with advanced skills that are invaluable for my career. My education at CUI was truly transformative.

Spencer Dunn ’10

Patient Care Supervisor, Center for Inherited Blood Disorders

I wish I could spend another four years at Concordia. It was such a great experience.

The Behavioral Science major offers students a foundation for understanding themselves and the world, from the perspectives of psychology, sociology, and anthropology. The professors challenge you to think critically about your assumptions and help you build a better worldview to take into your future vocation.

Judith Teruya ’18

Master of Public Policy: University of California Irvine '20

I believe CUI's behavioral science department was instrumental in helping me to pursue my career goals in social work. The department's academics are rigorous, and the professors are extremely supportive.

Megan Dougherty ’18

MSW Graduate student at Cal State Long Beach Human Options

Some of my fondest memories are from my years at Concordia. I always felt at home there, with the small class sizes and the genuinely caring faculty. I wish I could do it all over again!

Kirstin Tuccinardi ’14

Counselor, Saddleback College

Concordia’s behavioral science program taught me lessons that reach far beyond psychology, sociology, or anthropology. Through this program, I learned how to think, rather than what to think, and built relationships with classmates and professors that have stayed with me after graduating.

Lydia Preuss ’17

Research Assistant and M.A. Sociology Student at DePaul University

My classes with Dr. Koenig forced me to look at everything through a sociological lens and think critically about the world around me. We learned to not take everything for face-value, to look deeply (and structurally) at the inequality in our society, and to realize that, although it may seem impossible from our positions as students, we can make a positive change in the world. My professors at Concordia provided me with a positive classroom environment, as well as gave me the foundations in theory, methods, and statistics, that have contributed to my success since graduating from Concordia.

Katrina Alford ’17

Ph.D. student in Rural Sociology and Demography at Penn State

From team leadership to student services, having a foundational knowledge of human behavior has served me in every position I've held.

Alex Lange ’14

International Center Coordinator

As I continue my graduate studies and plan for the future, I'm increasingly blown away by the role that the people, education, and values at Concordia played in preparing me for where I am now.

Curriculum

Behavioral Sciences is a broad major that incorporates the Sociology, Psychology, and Anthropology disciplines. The breadth of subject material allows you to move into a wide variety of occupations that benefit from a knowledge of the human experience. You can choose an emphasis that further explores one of the dimensions of the Behavioral Sciences, such as culture (Anthropology emphasis), the individual (Psychology emphasis), or society (Sociology emphasis).

This course will explore the relationship between individual experiences and the socio-cultural context, focusing on the role socio-cultural institutions play on personality, health, and world view.

BSC 318: Linguistics

3

This course will study language as a fundamental component of human beings by examining the link between experience, culture, and language through the investigation of how language communicates, changes, and is used strategically to accomplish social ends.

PSY 403: Health Psychology

3

Unlike traditional models and schools of thought that see diseases solely as malfunctions of organs or breakdowns of body systems, this course will present the approach that health and illness are parts of a complex interplay among biological, psychological, and social factors.

SOC 320: Social Stratification

3

This course will introduce the sources, functions, and dynamics of the unequal distribution of wealth, power, knowledge, and prestige in an historical, comparative perspective.

BSC 492: Capstone: The Good Society

3

This course will examine the core liberal arts questions that the behavioral sciences attempt to address and will serve as a summative experience for the students in the major. Prerequisites: ANT 364, BSC 265, BSC 296, BSC 318, PSY 345, SOC 321.

Alumni Success

Graduates from Concordia University Irvine’s Behavioral Sciences major are putting their degrees to work and excelling in various professional callings and postgraduate studies.

After completing her degree at Concordia University Irvine, Isadora went on to Humboldt State University to obtain her MA in Applied Anthropology. During this time, she conducted an ethnographic study in Ifugao Philippines on the marginalization of farmworkers in popular tourist attractions and participated in archaeological excavations in Belize and the Philippines. Following her masters work, Isadora received a certificate in GIS (Geographic information systems).

Graduate Schools Attended

Opportunities for Behavioral Science Majors

As a Behavioral Sciences major, you will graduate with the ability to examine the different components of socio-cultural and international diversity and illustrate how a Christian world-view interrelates with and complements the scientific study of human behavior.

Academic Opportunities

The Behavioral Science major collaborates with the Anthropology, Psychology, and Sociology majors when structuring courses and interdisciplinary research. In addition to selecting an emphasis, you also have the option of choosing a related minor. You may also be interested in transitioning to our graduate program in leadership or counseling.

Extracurricular Activities

Concordia University offers many opportunities for you to become involved with on-campus events, clubs, and organizations. You can also choose to broaden your understanding of culture and society through studying in another country, or global travel. Our students creatively and effectively apply behavioral science knowledge and skills to promote positive change in the community.

Internships

Every student pursuing a bachelor's degree in Behavioral Sciences is required to complete an internship before graduation. Concordia enjoys good working relationships with a large number of nonprofits and programs in Southern California. Below are just a few examples of where our students have interned.

ACES

Boys and Girls Club

Boy’s Town

Build Futures

California Youth Services (CYS)

Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD)

CARES

Child Abuse Services Team (CAST)

The Child’s Learning Connection

Capstone

All Behavioral Science majors will participate in a capstone project and examine the core liberal arts questions that the behavioral sciences address. This course will serve as a summative experience for the students in the major.

Meet Your Professors

What makes our classes so unique is our intimate learning environment, coupled with a solid commitment by our faculty to the integration of faith and scholarship. Our professors are often described by students as knowledgeable, inspiring, respectful, and enjoyable.

Dr. John Lu

Dr. John Lu completed his doctorate at UC Irvine in Social Psychology with an emphasis in Health Psychology. His research interests are in the mind-body relationship where, most recently, he has been examining happiness and optimal performance. Dr. Lu teaches courses in Statistics, Cognition, Social Psychology, and Health Psychology. His greatest enjoyment in teaching is watching students grow academically and personally as they are challenged to foster their gifts.

Department Chair and Professor of Psychology

Dr. John Lu completed his doctorate at UC Irvine in Social Psychology with an emphasis in Health Psychology. His research interests are in the mind-body relationship where, most recently, he has been examining happiness and optimal performance. Dr. Lu teaches courses in Statistics, Cognition, Social Psychology, and Health Psychology. His greatest enjoyment in teaching is watching students grow academically and personally as they are challenged to foster their gifts.

Dr. Buddy Mendez

Dr. Mendez has been a full-time Professor of Psychology at Concordia for the past 25 years. While at Concordia, he has also worked as a Clinical Psychologist with a private practice in Newport Beach. He graduated from Fuller Theological Seminary with an M.A. in Theology and a Ph.D. in Psychology. Dr. Mendez has published the book, “Ready, Set, Married: 12 Christian Character Traits for a Strong and Lasting Marriage.” He plans to publish his second book, “Surviving Your Child’s Adolescence” next fall.

Professor of Psychology

Dr. Mendez has been a full-time Professor of Psychology at Concordia for the past 25 years. While at Concordia, he has also worked as a Clinical Psychologist with a private practice in Newport Beach. He graduated from Fuller Theological Seminary with an M.A. in Theology and a Ph.D. in Psychology. Dr. Mendez has published the book, “Ready, Set, Married: 12 Christian Character Traits for a Strong and Lasting Marriage.” He plans to publish his second book, “Surviving Your Child’s Adolescence” next fall.

Dr. Kristen Koenig

Dr. Kristen Koenig completed her Master’s degree at Oxford University and her Doctorate of Philosophy at the University of York, England. Dr. Koenig joined the faculty at Concordia University Irvine in 2013 after teaching twelve years at Concordia College – New York. Her expertise is in the area of globalization, but her true passion is encouraging students to adapt the sociological imagination to understanding the contemporary world around them. Dr. Koenig encourages students to critically analyze everyday life and enjoys presenting on a variety of salient topics.

Associate Professor of Sociology

Dr. Kristen Koenig completed her Master’s degree at Oxford University and her Doctorate of Philosophy at the University of York, England. Dr. Koenig joined the faculty at Concordia University Irvine in 2013 after teaching twelve years at Concordia College – New York. Her expertise is in the area of globalization, but her true passion is encouraging students to adapt the sociological imagination to understanding the contemporary world around them. Dr. Koenig encourages students to critically analyze everyday life and enjoys presenting on a variety of salient topics.

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